Risk Factors associated with Common Maternal Mental Disorders (CMMD) and its Influence on Physical Growth of Under-5 Children in Selected Hospitals in Ibadan
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Date
2025-12
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Lead City University Ibadan
Abstract
Maternal mental health is increasingly recognized as a critical determinant of child survival and development, yet it remains underexplored in Nigeria. This study assessed the prevalence of common maternal mental disorders (CMMD) and their association with child growth among mothers of children aged 0–59 months in Ibadan. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, and 291 mother–child pairs were recruited from selected hospitals. Data were collected using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) and standard anthropometric measurements of children. Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify predictors of maternal mental health. The findings showed that 13.7% of mothers met the threshold for
CMMD, a prevalence aligning with most regional and global estimates, indicating that approximately one in seven mothers experienced common maternal mental disorders. Common symptoms included headaches (33.3%), nervousness (23.7%), and loss of interest in daily activities (24.1%), with 8.6% reporting suicidal ideation. Nutritional assessment revealed that 30.9% of children were stunted, 17.1% were underweight, 3.8% had severe acute malnutrition and 12% microcephaly while 5.8% were overweight, reflecting the emerging double burden of malnutrition. Maternal mental health was significantly associated with child acute malnutrition based on Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (p = 0.002) and head circumference (p = 0.048), though not with stunting or underweight. Independent predictors of CMMD included single motherhood (AOR= 9.75), low partner education level (AOR=7.69), high stress (AOR = 8.28), recent abuse (AOR = 8.71), and perceived unsafe neighborhoods (AOR = 45.08). The study concludes that maternal mental health is still under-recognized but has significant influence on child growth outcomes in Nigeria. It recommends integrating mental health screening into routine maternal and child health services, strengthening psychosocial support, and addressing socio-economic and community-level risk factors to improve both maternal well-being and child survival.
Keywords: Maternal Mental Health, Common Maternal Mental Disorders, Child Physical Growth, Depression, Anxiety, Somatic Symptoms
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Keywords
Maternal Mental Health, Common Maternal Mental Disorders, Child Physical Growth, Depression, Anxiety, Somatic Symptoms
Citation
Kate Turabian